Perrottet is leaving the position of contributing editor to make way for Daniel Drageset, an AUT Masters in Communications Studies student and Norwegian radio journalist, who will take over the role in early 2013.

Perrottet said the Pacific Media Centre had tried to focus on journalism that created research as well as awareness on Pacific issues. He said journalism students at AUT often had opportunities for their work to be published on the Pacific Media Centre site, as well as Pacific Scoop.

"It is not just an academic centre... we publish online and give students an outlet to have their work read by the public," he said.

"We basically put out a status report on every Pacific Islands Forum country, including Australia and New Zealand, and their media issues."

He also spoke about the centre's Pacific Journalism Review and the focus on media freedom and development journalism in its recent editions.

Speaking of the Pacific Media Centre site and Pacific Scoop, he said the sites are designed as a "one stop shop" and a resource for anyone interested in Pacific media, including academics, journalists and the general public.

"It's one of those places you could put in your bookmarks and it will take you to anything you need about media in the Pacific."

He said the PMC was moving shortly, along with the rest of the School of Communications, to the new WG building at the centre of the AUT University campus. It would be a very accessible location for students.

Perrottet will continue his afiliation with the Pacific Media Centre.

Perrottet said he was one of many students who had benefited from the experience of working and learning at the PMC under the guidance of the centre's director, Professor David Robie.

Pacific Media Watch is compiled for the Pacific Media Centre as a regional media freedom and educational resource by a network of journalists, students, stringers and commentators.
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